Do All Roads Lead to Heaven?

THE GOD QUESTIONS DO ALL R OADS LE AD TO HEAVEN ? John 14:6 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. I. Is Jesus God? John 10:30 30 I and the Father are one. John 8:58 8 . . . "before Abraham was born, I am!" John 1:1, 14 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. . .. Acts 20:28 28 . . . Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. John 20:28 28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Revelation 19:10 10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers . . .” II. How Did It Work Out for Others Who Claimed To Be God? III. What About Other Religions? Matthew 7:16 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? IV. What about the Church that Does Not Follow Jesus? 1 Revelation 21:7-8 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Galatians 5:18-23 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. V. What about Mix It All Together? John 14:6 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. VI. What About Those Who Have Not Heard? Matthew 28:18-20 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Romans 1:20 1 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. VII. What Is the Best Approach? 1 Peter 3:15-16 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 2